Murtha Wants Oversight Of Mercenaries

Congressman John Murtha, the Democratic Party Hawk who in November of 2005 called for US troop redeployment from Iraq, today promised to recommend to the Congressional leadership that extensive hearings be held beginning later this month to address "accountability, military readiness, intelligence oversight and the activities of private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan." His full statement can be found here.

Back in April of 2004 authors Robert Weissman and Russ Mokhiber wrote an excellent piece on "The Rising Corporate Military Monster." They wrote

"The larger become the military contractors, the more influence they have in Congress and the Pentagon, the more they are able to shape policy, immunize themselves from proper oversight, and expand their reach. The private military firms are led by ex-generals, the most effective possible lobbyists of their former colleagues -- and frequently former subordinates -- at the Pentagon. As they grow in size, and become integrated into the military-industrial complex (Northrop Grumman has swallowed a number of the military contractors, for example), their political leverage in Congress and among civilians in the executive branch grows."

If that statement is accurate, and I think it is, it suggests that Murtha may have difficulty getting meaningful hearings off the ground. Let's hope his Democratic colleagues support him on this.